ME: All these characters belong to JKR, except Lucy and Sara. So, my darling readers, you are pretty darn awesome. Especially the reviewers (hint, hint). I apologize for the fact that everything's been rather short. I'll try to make it longer. 90 REVIEWS!!!! Alright, my thanks today is for; victoriam549, jalapeno1011, Treadstone, and xWayTooMuchSugarx. I dedicate this chapter to Lizzle09 (for another great review), Blaise Skylark (I love new reviewers :D and your review made my day, cause I try to be careful with the things you mentioned) and Ghostliyprincess (I missed your reviews!!! Thank you for sticking with me!). I still want 100 reviews. I know it's a lot to ask for, but can you do it? For me? Pretty please? I'm keeping the past offer up there for the 100th reviewer. Alright, ONTO THE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

James transformed into a human at the edge of the forbidden forest (he actually thought this time), being careful to catch Lily in a bridal position as she slid off his changing back. She didn't wake. He admired her for a second, and turned, treading through the deep snow back to Hogwarts.

Finally, he stepped up the stairs to the entrance, (slipping and sliding on the way) his breath coming in light pants and his arms aching for a break. The old, large stone bordering on the walls seemed to pull him in, and he gratefully transferred Lily so the middle of his elbow carried her legs instead of his hand and yanked the giant doors open. They groaned with the release.

Sighing heavily, James edged through them, kneeling on the floor when he got inside. The warmth of the building soaked into him, making him feel a strange, peculiar sensation as if he was defrosting. He set Lily on the floor next to him, gently resting her head down. His muscles shook from the effort of carrying her so far a distance, but it was worth it. Lily was safe, and he had just spent some incredible bonding time with her. Even if she didn't know it was him. And she was asleep most of the time. But still.

Looking around for a teacher, James stood, stretching out his arms. He had to put Lily somewhere. He knelt back down and scooped Lily onto his back in piggy-back fashion, slowly beginning the journey to… to… where was he going? If he dropped Lily off in his own room, she'd know the stag was him (which may not have been such a bad thing). He couldn't get into the girls dorms because Dumbledore had cast a spell so brooms couldn't get up there anymore. He could retransform into a stag and walk up there, but what if someone saw him? What if Lily woke up during the process? Along with that, what if Lily woke up now? James turned his head toward her anxiously. No, she was still sound asleep (somehow). Then again, if he put her in his own bed he could just tell her he found her asleep in the common room and figured she'd want a comfier place. But she was smarter than that. She always saw through his plans, it was one of the reasons he loved her so much. So what to do?

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Lily Evans awoke to the slow rocking of someone walking. Her eyelids parted, giving a glimpse of green underneath them, and fluttered open. Where was she? Why was she moving? What the heck was going on!?! She hurriedly closed her eyes, realizing her carrier hadn't seen she was awake yet. Opening them very slightly, she peeked at the person. He had very messy black hair, giving him a roguish appearance, slightly crooked glasses, an always present smile, and familiar sparkling hazel eyes. He was quite attractive. James Potter, obviously. Why was she in his arms? And what happened to the stag!? James's calloused hands held her under her butt, in piggy back fashion. For a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the feel of his muscular arms holding her up, the way his body touched hers.

"James?" She tried to whisper near his ear. All that came out was a croak.

His head whipped around, she discovered he was chuckling. "Lost your voice?" He asked, his warm, velvety voice, entrancing her (much like the stag had). A trace of worry and surprise was present in his gorgeous face.

The cold must have done this to her. She nodded into is wide shoulders, resting her head against one of them.

James had to have known she'd want to know why she was in his arms, but he didn't say anything. Jerk. Sweet jerk. That doesn't make sense, Lily's conscious told her. She almost laughed, but realized she'd probably sound something like a wheezing donkey.

"I have one question. I know it's random, but I have to ask," James began, watching Lily in his peripheral vision. He had began to mount the stairs, heading to an unknown destination.

Lily stayed silent, leaving James to take it as a confirmation to go on.

"Please go out with me?" James asked, almost pleading. He had no idea why he'd wanted to ask so badly. It was the wrong time, he knew.

Lily did also. She wanted to say, 'listen James,' or something like that, but her voice wasn't working. She would like to say yes, she really would, but she still didn't know for sure. She had to be positive that if she said yes, he wouldn't get tired of her and move onto another girl. She had to be positive that he wasn't trying to do exactly what Severus had tried to convince her- make Severus jealous.

Her eyes were a little damp, but she was positive about her answer. She shook her head, denying him with slight regret.

James' head drooped a bit, but he wouldn't give up. Not ever. And besides, this was the longest she had ever taken to answer him. He had gotten somewhere. He grinned, stunning Lily. She wanted to ask him what he was looking so happy about, but, as pointed out before, she was unable to.

James brought her up 4 flights of moving stairs, through a portrait of an old man that refused to stop humming, down a mini staircase, and into the Gryffindor Common room. Why had he taken such a strange route? She stared at him pointedly, her eyes quizzical.

"Sirius is planning a present for.. A friend." He told her. "I didn't want to get in the way."

Lily's eyebrows came together, thinking. James set her down onto a plush red couch and dropped next to her.

"It's odd not hearing you talk. I miss your pretty voice," He said, smiling devilishly. She sighed.

Would he never change?